Number 176 - 8th
November 2003
Michael
Vincent is the first magician in The Magic Circle's history to win the
Close-up Magician of the Year competition three times. In the 80's,
in the 90's and now in again in 2003. He presented a faultless set on
Monday evening in front of a packed Circle audience. Pure sleight of hand
was combined with original routining using coins and cards to devastating
effect. Few magicians really manage to make magic "magical"...
Michael does. The other successful finalists were, Rajan, Fay Presto, Tim
Shoesmith, Walt Lees and Lee Florida. Tim Shoesmith was placed 2nd and Fay
Presto 3rd - congratulations to all the winners. Michael Vincent is
featured in November's
Magic
Profile.
8.11.03
FISM
Grand Prix winners Norbert Ferre and Jason Latimer (photo) have been
added to an already very strong bill for the
Blackpool
Convention in February, 2004. Jason Latimer will be presenting his
sensational close-up act exclusively in Blackpool, as will also perform on
sateg. Billy McComb, Vik and Fabrini, Ron Popple, Roger Drew, Richard
Stupple, The Wendy Callister Dancers and the incredible Yamagami Brothers
from Japan (7 year old FISM special-award winners!) have also just been added to
the line-up. The Dealers Fair will be held in the Empress Ballroom and the
adjoining Arena. 100 dealers from all over the world, at least 30 of whom
have never been seen at Blackpool before, will be exhibiting. Included in
the registration price for those who opt for a Gold Card registration
before January 1st is a complementary document case. Already over 1,500
magicians have registered. The last two year's conventions sold out in
advance so early booking is strongly advised. Full details on
www.blackpoolmagic.com.
8.11.03
Broadcast
magazine for October 24th reported: Channel 4 to 'shed light' on
Brown Stunt - "Channel 4 is set to repeat its controversial Russian
roulette stunt, in which illusionist Derren Brown supposedly fired a
loaded gun at his head, with extra unseen footage in an attempt to 'shed
some light' on what really happened." Derren is currently making a new
series of Derren Brown Mind Control for screening early next year.
8.11.03
Mark
Wilson, who lectures at The Magic Circle on Sunday November 16th (see
What's On), will also present his
lecture in Bath on November 19th at 8pm at Bailbrook House, London Road
West, Bath. Seating is limited to 50 at this first class venue and booking
is essential. Tickets are £10 from Mandy Farrell 01225 429876 (or 078999
75753), or Adrian Burholt 01380 859049, or Simon Lane 01225 313551.
8.11.03
John
Derris and Saxon Tylney (photo) will be appearing at The North West
Dealers Day organised by The Order of the Magi on Sunday 16th November
at Barnton and Anderton British Legion Club, Meadow Drive, Barnton. Full
directions are on
www.orderofthemagi.co.uk. The event runs from 10am to 4pm, and a bar
with refreshments will be open. There is a £50 Dealer Voucher to be won
and admission is only £5. John Derris lectures from 1pm to 2pm and a
performance by Saxon will bring the event to a close.
8.11.03
Jane
Maxwel-Hyslop is keen to get in touch with performers who may be
interested in featuring in a series of photographic portraits entitled
'supporting roles'. As the title suggests, the study will focus on artists
whose work relies on the close participation of an assistant; exploring
the importance of qualities such as collaboration, collusion and trust in
performing a convincing illusion. As a recent graduate of The London
Institute's MA arts program, the project is conceived as a Gallery piece
and as an extension to Jane's portfolio of personal work. However, after
consultation with the participants it may also be submitted for
publication as an editorial study. For more information email Jane,
mentioning MagicWeek:
janemaxwellhyslop@hotmail.com.
8.11.03
Pete
Firman was a contestant on Celebrity 5 Go Dating on E4 last
week. During the course of the five programmes he dated five celebrity
girls in a host of weird and wonderful locations, from spending a morning
on a fruit and veg stall to adopting an animal at a petting zoo. Must have
been a good week - we've never seen Pete happier!
8.11.03
Uri
Geller appears on
Louis, Martin and Michael
next Sunday on BBC2. See
TV Magic. "Louis Theroux sets
out on a personal quest to meet pop idol Michael Jackson and to examine
the often bizarre world that surrounds the superstar. He talks to those
who know Jackson best, including close friend Uri Geller - who fixed an
interview for Martin Bashir and claims he can do the same for Theroux -
Jackson's personal magician Majestic Magnificent and his father, Joe
Jackson."
8.11.03
Colin Rose Lectures
at the Leeds Magical Association on Tuesday,
November 11th. Non-member magicians are welcome to attend for a small
door charge of £5. The club meets at the Quaker Meeting
House, 188 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds (opposite the University, next to the
Eldon pub). Further details can be obtained from their website
www.leedsmagic.co.uk.
Visit Colin's website:
www.colinrosemimc.co.uk.
8.11.03
Blackpool
Magicians Club are holding their Close-up Competition at the
Savoy Hotel, Queens Promenade, Blackpool at 8pm on Tuesday, 11th November.
A limited number of visitors are welcome to watch the event. Contact Derek
Lever on 01253 810113 or email
deriko@skynow.net for details.
8.11.03
The largest magic auction to take place in Scotland will be hosted by Perth Magic Circle on Sunday 16th November. The Sale will commence at 1pm (doors open from noon for receipt of items for sale) in The Perth Ex-servicemen's Club. Admission is £3 on the door. The sale, which is the 6th to have been organised by the Perth club, has grown each year. Three auctioneers, Jim Craig, Ian Dougall and Adrian Harris will ensure continuous action during the day which promises to be a lot of fun! Further information from the Hon. Sec. Adrian Harris Adrian.Harris@Blueyonder.co.uk. 8.11.03
Go
on... Steal Yourself - the "How to be a Pickpocket" guide from award
winning magician and pickpocket James Freedman is reviewed this week,
Click Here.
8.11.03
The
Manchester Circle of Magicians are holding a Jumbo Magic Auction
on Tuesday 18th November at 7.30pm at Salford Masonic Hall, The Crescent,
Salford, Manchester. Hundreds of items have already been submitted.
Professional magic auctioneers Mike Shepherd and Derek Lever will provide
the expertise and fun. Members free of charge. Non-members £3.00. For
further details and a map please contact Derek Lever, 32 Pilling Lane,
Preesall, Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lancs. FY6 0EU
Map Phone/Fax: 01253 810113 Email:
deriko@skynow.net.
8.11.03
Karl
Hemmingway has been asked by Eton college to be their first ever guest
lecturer for their newly formed Psychology Society on November 21st. The
talk will focus on mind magic and stage hypnosis. Karl will be covering
the reasons why mind magic and hypnosis work and how performers can turn
certain situations to their advantage. For further information on Karl's
talk email
info@karlhemmingway.co.uk.
8.11.03
John
Hart's And for My Last Trick is available from
www.amazon.co.uk. "A memoir of 52 years of an extraordinary life. John
Hart left Cambridge to join the RAF, where his talent for entertaining
others fast came to light, initially as a conjuror. On his demobilisation
from the RAF he began working on his father's poultry farm, but magic was
his first love. He married his wife Mary in 1952, and with her help and
encouragement he became an all-round children's entertainer: from the
smallest children's party to the furthest reaches of high society. This
volume features amusing anecdotes about the ups and downs of his varied
career until his retirement in 1991. John Hart is a Gold star member of
The Inner Magic Circle and a member of the International Brotherhood of
Magicians."
8.11.03
BBC1's
Test the Nation is still accepting applications from magicians. They are now preparing
for the next in the series which will be shown live on BBC1 in December.
The test itself will cover news events from 2003. The studio audience
plays an integral part in the programme and is split into six groups by
occupation, hobbies or physical characteristics. On this occasion,
Magicians is one of the categories that they would like to include.
The group will be made up of 50 - 60 magicians. As part of the studio
audience, hand held computer keypads are used to answer the multiple
choice questions which means that nobody else finds out each person's
individual score. Although everyone answers the questions as individuals,
they play as a group and it is the show's policy to not spotlight
individuals. Contact: Amanda Morris, Researcher - Test The Nation, Talent
TV on 020 7421 7830 email
Amanda.Morris@talenttv.com.
8.11.03
International
News: Blackstone's famous illusions are being auctioned in Los
Angeles. Magician Harry Blackstone's famous sawing in half illusion,
including the 30" buzz saw blade, will be offered at a live "Monsters &
Magic" auction on November 15th. The public sale will be conducted in Los
Angeles and on eBay.com by Julien Entertainment of Hollywood in
association with Odyssey Auctions (www.autographs.com
) of Corona, California. "More than 400 stage illusions, costumes,
original artwork, signed documents and other items from the estates of
Harry Blackstone Senior and Junior, are in the sale. The Blackstone's
entertained generations of audiences around the world, and remain the
timeless image of the magician in tail coat and top hat," said Darren
Julien, President of Julien Entertainment. Buyers can view, track and bid
immediately using the online "Monsters and Magic" auction catalogue at
www.autographs.com.
Free digital catalogues are available upon request by calling (800)
996-3977. The sale will be conducted at the Hotel Sofitel, 8555 Beverly
Blvd., in Los Angeles, beginning at 11am, Saturday, November 15th.
8.11.03
Psychic Secrets Revealed, the six part series produced by Objective Productions and shown recently on Five, is discussed this week by Graham P. Jolley, Click Here • MGM Mirage and exhibition organiser Earls Court and Olympia Group agreed on Tuesday to invest 150 million pounds in a Las Vegas-style casino in central London once parliament deregulates the market, Click Here for the full story from Reuters • David Blaine, latest news: The Sun, Mirror, The Independent, ITV, CNN, BBC • That's it for this week, your UK magic news is always welcomed. See you next week, Duncan. 8.11.03